Not all in one day……
I’ve been experiencing some issues with apple wordpress app latest version and the long days , climbing temples and heat have not helped. Sooo, bottom line – the blogging is a few days behind.
Sunday I spent a lovely day with Elliot from Peace of Angkor walking around some of the lesser visited temples in the Angkor Park. They were temples that were recommended by various sources, but not included in my two day itinary with Charming Asia. It included a visit to Pre-Angkorian Roulos group and sunrise at Angkor Wat. Elliot, an excellent photographer helped me with the more technical aspects like iso and F-settings. He also knew the best spots to take pictures from and how to dodge the crowds – neccessary, even at the lesser visited temples. It was an awesome day and highly recommended.
Monday we set off to the Thai border to the mountain temple of Preah Vihear. En route we stopped at the home of one of the high ranking Khmer Rouge officials. He lived on an island surrounded by a poison-laced moat. Many soldiers lost their life trying to cross it and capture him. He was captured and killed in this stronghold and the property is now a museum. Not much is left besides the structure of the buildings and his awesome wall paintings of rural landscapes and angkor wat. He was a very good artist.
Preah Vihear is a sprawling complex on top of much disputed territory, the presence of Cambodian and UN soldiers being a testament to this. It is built on several levels with long paved causeways between levels… this runs over 1km. The holiest sanctuary is intact and there was a buddist ceremony going on when we passed. Outside the sanctuary is a cliff that offers views all the way to the sea on a clear day… which it wasn’t due to many illegal fires. Villagers are not allowed to cut off live trees, so they burn the area down as they then can cut the ‘dead, burned trees’.
I slipped and grased my hand walking back to the 4×4. It is healing well and luckily my camera did not sustain any damage. The evening was room service and early night for me.
The next morning we were on the road again, this time to the Jungle temples of Beng Mealea and the Koh Ker complex.
En route we took a stroll through the village market and Khempet showed me the various fruits, fish and streetfood the locals purchase here.
We visited Koh Ker first as Beng Mealea is crowded in the morning. We visited some smaller outlaying temples of this complex – having been an Ankorian Capital for 28 years. Most of the temple towers to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma has been looted of their linga, used as stone quarries or prised apart by tree-roots. The single temple tower of the “dark lady” , which was possibly a tomb of a high placed official has been burned severely.
We then moved on to the main complex with its moat, still used by locals as watersource today. The outer buildings reminds of Beng Mealea, grey sandstone overgrown with trees. The main tower is a very very high “stepped pyramid” which you can climb via wooden staircases. It is very steep and with my fear of heights I was happy to gawk, take a few pics and go for lunch.
The afternoon it was time for magical Beng Mealea… wooden walkways and stairs allow the visitor relativly easy access instead of stumbling over the ruins and risk further damage or injury. It is beaufitul, almost frozen in time.
The evening I took a tuk-tuk into Siem Reap for supper in the famous Pub-Street and some shopping. It was a hive of activity. The curry I had at Speak Easy was very good. Bonus -draft Angkor beer for 50c US.
Today was my rest day, slept late with breakfast at 8:30. I had a 90 minute massage which was wonderful, as long as you keep in mind that this is different than the western swedish massage. It was more like visiting a chiropractor with that really strong little lady more on the table than beside it, streching and pulling and taking my tense muscles as a very personal affront.
At 14:00 I transferred to the Pacific hotel where I am supposed to meet my guide and the rest of the group tomorrow at 8 to visit Angkor Tom. As there is little knowlegde of a european english group booked for the same period at reception I’m wondering what to expect tomorrow. Best show up and see what happens…
A group of very noisy asians just checked into the passage… and there is a houseband playing at the pool, very much bringing to mind kareoke nights…. say you say me… hero… superstar. Yes, there goes superstar again… this one is better than the previous…. nope false alarm, just as bad. Each to his own I guess. “yesterday”… wonder if “hey jude” is on the list or is it still too early at 20:45? Well its my is own little “noot vir noot” – guess the song in least number of notes :p
Room service (Egg-fried noodles with beef and veg) was good and the heated and cold water jaccuzi is heavenly.
I’m off to read a book and rest up for a big temple day tomorrow…
Good night and stay safe xxx
Temple & Iceberg Trails: A Journey Through Asperger's 